Velasquez grew up attending church and her parents were singers. Her mother has Mexican ancestry; From both sides of her family, Velasquez also has Spanish, French, Jewish, Scottish, and Arabic ancestry.[1] When she was ten years old, her parents sold their Houston home and dedicated themselves to touring the United States with their Christian music. It was while on the road that she was discovered by a representative of Myrrh Records.
In 1995, Velasquez sang at an Alvin, Texas church (ESMIRNA) where she met Mauricio Ruiz, a local immigration consultant, as well as his wife, Flora Ruiz. They made a large contribution in support of Velasquez and her parents. This helped her and her family to travel the United States and launch her singing career.
Velasquez released her first CD album in 1996, and five of the songs on that CD became #1 hits, the album was later certified Platinum. She has since released six English-language albums, two of which were certified Gold. She has produced 16 #1 Christian radio hits and six other top 10 singles. She has won 7 Dove awards including New Artist of the Year and 2 Female Vocalist of the Year nods. In 1998, she signed to Sony Latin and was introduced to Rudy Perez, who produced her 1st Spanish language crossover album Llegar a Ti. After that, Velasquez was able to achieve the crossover appeal she desired, building a fan base among Hispanics as well as other Americans. Her Latin music success includes 4 Spanish language releases, 3 #1 Latin Billboard Singles, 2 Platinum albums, a Premio Lo Nuestro Award for New Artist of the Year and 2 Billboard Latin Music Awards. Velasquez was given a chance in 2002 to act in her first Hollywood movie, Chasing Papi. As well as Velasquez, this movie featured Sofia Vergara, Puerto Rico's Roselyn Sanchez and Mexico's Eduardo Verastegui, as well as Nicole Scherzinger in a cameo role; it was released nationwide in the United States in April 2003. The movie reached as high as #11 at the box office and grossed $6 million in total. Velasquez has appeared in over 50 magazines and sang for President George W. Bush multiple times.
On August 16, 2003, Velasquez married Darren Potuck, band member of AutoVaughn, who is from Goshen, Indiana. They were married under two years when divorce papers were filed. Attempts to get the public records of the divorce have been unsuccessful.
Velasquez communicated with Christian radio, asking for prayers for emotional and spiritual healing rather than speaking about the divorce in vivid detail as some listeners had hoped.
Velasquez appeared in the December 2003 issue of Right On! magazine, where editor Cynthia Horner called her, among other things, a true role model to teens.
---DISCOGRAPHY, SINGLES AND VIDEOS---
CG= Christian Gospel Billboard Chart
HLT= Hot Latin Tracks Billboard Chart
TB2: The Billboard 200
TLA: Top Latin Albums Billboard Chart
HDCP: Hot Dance Music/Club Play
-Heavenly Place (1996) TB2=142 Platinum
*Un lugar celestial (a heavenly place).video.#1 CG
*On My kness .video. #1 CG
*If this world #1 CG
*We can make a difference #1 CG
*Flower in the rain. #1 CG
-Jaci Velasquez (1998) TB2=56 Gold
*God So Loved .video. #1 CG
*Look What Love Has Done #1 CG
*Show You Love #1 CG
*Speak For Me #1 CG
*You #1 CG
-Llegar A Ti (1999) TLA=4 Platinum
*Llegar a ti .video. #1 HLT
*De creer en ti .video. #18 HLT
*Sólo tú #4 HLT
*Un lugar celestial #10 HLT
*Love Will Find You (Llegar A Ti)#24 HDCP
-Crystal Clear (2000) TB2=29 Gold
*Adore .video. #1 GC
*Imagine me without you #1 CG
*Center Of Your Love #1 CG
*Everytime I fall #1 CG
*Just a prayer away #1 CG
-Mi Corazón (2001) TLA=7 Gold
*Como se cura una herida .video. #1 HLT
*Dejame quererte para siempre
-Christmas (2001) TB2=102
-Navidad (2001) TLA= 23
-Unspoken (2003) TB2=55
*You're My God
*Jesus Is
*Lost Without You
*Where I Belong
*Unspoken
-Milagro (2003) TLA=24
*No hace falta un hombre .video. #5 HLT
*Es amor
-Protagonistas de la música (special appearance)
*No Me Rendiré with Pablo Portillo #19 HTL
-Mi Historia Musical (2004)
-Beauty Has Grace (2005) TB2=195
*With all my soul
*I'm not looking down
*Lay it down
-On My Knees: The Best of Jaci Velasquez (2006)
Shelter
Jaci Velasquez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How the heart can stray
Suddenly you're on the edge of darkness
How it makes me ponder
How I'm led away
Down a path that leaves me worn and tarnished
Battling with the will within
That I should lean on You
'Cause I'm never strong enough
To fight it on my own
[CHORUS:]
Shelter me
The ways of the world are at my feet
Shelter me
From the desires that deceive
You are the fortress I need
Shelter me
How the mind can wonder
How the heart can change
When you set your sights on holiness
And though at times you falter
It's the only way
You can find a place of peace to rest
[CHORUS]
You will never leave me stranded
Fending for myself
When the enemy advances
You are there to help
Standing in the gap for me
Whenever I grow weak
You are my deliverer
The refuge that I seek
I should lean on You
'Cause I'm never strong enough
To fight it on my own
How the mind can wander
How the heart can stray
Suddenly you're on the edge of darkness
How it makes me ponder
How I'm led away
Down a path that leaves me worn and tarnished
Battling with the will within
I have known all along
That I should lean on You
'Cause I'm never strong enough
To fight it on my own
[CHORUS]
The lyrics to Jaci Velasquez's song Shelter explore the theme of seeking refuge in God in the midst of temptation and darkness. The song begins by acknowledging how easily the mind can wander and the heart can stray, leading one towards the edge of darkness. The singer ponders on how they are led away on a path that leaves them worn and tarnished. However, they acknowledge that they cannot fight these internal battles alone and must lean on God for shelter and protection from the ways of the world and the desires that deceive.
The chorus emphasizes the need for God's shelter as the singer recognizes that they are never strong enough to fight on their own. They seek God as their fortress, the one who will never leave them stranded and will always stand in the gap for them whenever they grow weak. The lyrics reflect a desire to seek holiness as a way to find a place of peace to rest.
Overall, the lyrics of Shelter convey a message of dependence on God as a refuge and fortress in the midst of life's struggles and temptations. It recognizes the importance of seeking holiness as a way to find true peace and rest.
Line by Line Meaning
How the mind can wander
The mind is capable of straying from the right path
How the heart can stray
The heart can also deviate from the right course
Suddenly you're on the edge of darkness
Without realizing it, one can get trapped in a dark place
How it makes me ponder
This realization can make one reflect on their actions
How I'm led away
It's easy to be misled from what is right
Down a path that leaves me worn and tarnished
This path can have negative effects on one's well-being
Battling with the will within
One must fight against their own desires and temptations
I have known all along
The right path is not unknown, it's a matter of making the right choices
That I should lean on You
God is the source of strength and guidance
'Cause I'm never strong enough
Human strength alone is not sufficient to overcome struggles
To fight it on my own
One cannot face life's challenges alone
Shelter me
God is asked to protect the artist from worldly temptations
The ways of the world are at my feet
The world's ways are alluring and easily accessible
From the desires that deceive
These temptations offer false promises
You are the fortress I need
God is the ultimate source of protection and safety
How the heart can change
One can renew their heart toward holiness
When you set your sights on holiness
Focusing on what is good and holy can guide you toward a better path
And though at times you falter
Even when one slips up, they can still regain their footing
It's the only way
The path toward holiness is the only true path to peace
You can find a place of peace to rest
Holiness leads to a sense of calm and serenity
You will never leave me stranded
God is always present, even in difficult times
Fending for myself
Life's challenges cannot be faced alone
When the enemy advances
The singer acknowledges that struggles will arise from external forces
You are there to help
God is always there to provide support and protection
Standing in the gap for me
God helps bridge the gap between the singer's imperfections and holiness
Whenever I grow weak
In moments of weakness, God provides strength and guidance
You are my deliverer
God rescues the singer from danger and evil
The refuge that I seek
God is the ultimate source of safety and protection
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Downtown Music Publishing, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: DAN HUFF, MARK JAMES HEIMERMANN, WAYNE KIRKPATRICK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind